BIOGRAPHIES:  Olof RINDAHL, Gale Township, Trempealeau Co., WI

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Submitted by: Nance Sampson, Trempealeau Co. WIGenWeb CC  19 February 2005
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**Posted for informational purposes only. I am not related to the subject 
of this biography, nor do I have any further information on this family.

Olof Rindahl.  Though most of the original pioneers of Trempealeau
County have passed away, their work in the development of the county
is being carried under more favorable conditions and with still more
prosperous results by the sons and grandsons they have left behind
them.  One of the prominent members of the second generation in Gale
Township is Olof Rindahl, a farmer in section 22 east, who was born
in a log house erected by his father in this township, Dec. 8, 1863. 
The father was Otto Rindahl, who was born in Lillehammer, Norway, in
1818, and who came to the United States in the fifth decade of the
last century, locating first in Lewis Valley, La Crosse County, Wis. 
His wife, born April 28, 1828, was a native of the same district in
Norway.  After farming a few years in La Crosse County, Otto Rindahl
removed to Gale Township, buying the farm on which one of his sons,
Mat O. Rindahl, now lives.  On this he built a log house and began
the work of improvement, continued by him for many years, and that
original farm was his home until his death, which occurred in 1902. 
Though his experiences in early days were hard, like all the
pioneers, he in time prospered and was able at a later period to
donate land for the site of the Lutheran church at Hardie's Creek,
and he also assisted in building the church.  To official position in
his township or county he never aspired, devoting his time and
energies to the care of his homestead and to providing for his
family.  His wife, whose maiden name was Oleia, died on June 13,
1909.  They had seven children, of whom Olof was the fifth born.

Olof Rindahl acquired the elements in the Glasgow schoolhouse, where
many other now prosperous farmers in his township got their
education.  He was obliged to begin industrial life at an early age,
however, for, when only 15 years old he began work in the woods,
being attached to a logging camp, and was thus employed for three
winters, working on the farm in the summer.  At a subsequent period,
when old enough to work for himself, he rented a farm, which he
operated for three years, at the end of that time buying his present
farm, on which he has since resided.  It contains 160 acres of
valuable land, and the buildings, erected by himself, are neat in
appearance and of substantial construction, being also equipped with
modern conveniences.  Mr. Rindahl is successfully engaged in general
farming and is also a stockholder in the Farmers' Exchange at
Galesville, the Ettrick Telephone Company, and the Farmers' Equity. 
He was married in October, 1892, to Mattie Huckstadt, who was born on
an adjoining farm, daughter of Andrew C. and Helen (Toppan)
Huckstadt.  Her parents, who were natives of Norway, came at an early
date to this region, resided on Black River for a while and then
moved to the farm above mentioned, on which both subsequently died,
the father in 1894 and the mother some time previously.  Their
daughter Mattie, who was the eldest of seven children, was educated
in the schools of Gale Township.  Mr. and Mrs. Rindahl have five
children:  Alfred, Herman Oscar, Melva Octava, Edwin and Julia, all
of whom reside at home.  Mr. Rindahl, like his father before him, is
a member of the Lutheran church.  In politics he is a Republican, but
is not active in public affairs, though always taking an interest in
whatever concerns the good of the community in which he lives.

-Transcribed from the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin,
1917," pages 435-436.

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